Automatic fire shutter



A ril 9,- 1929.

J. M. CORNELL AUTOMATIC FIRE SHUTTER Filed June 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR @wdl. @Ww x g HIS ATTORNEY April 9, 1929. J. M. CORNELL 1,708,377

AUTOMATI C FIRE SHUTTER Filed June 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 655 .3 R '63zlg.5

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES.

JOHN M. CORNELL, or size BRIGHT, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC FIRE SHUTTER.

Application filed June 2,

This invention relates to that class of fireresisting shutters or doors which are normally held in raised or open position, but

which are designed to be automatically released and closed upon predetermined rise in temperature, asm case of fire. A shutter of the type in question is disclosed in Letters I Patent No. 1,530,652, issued to Milton L. Cornell, March 24, 1925.. V

Shutters of this type are frequently in-v stalled at the opposite sides of door or window openings in the walls of buildings, in which event each shutter is independent of the other, each being equipped with its own operating mechanism. Aside from themat tor of the extra fire protection given by these double shutters, there are many objections to the same as heretofore installed, that is, for independent operation. For instance, in case of fire, where both doors have-automatically closed asthe result of the fusing of the fusible link or links comprised in theshutter operating mechanism, any one endeavoring to escape through the opening would be obliged to lift bothdoors separately, and the delay thus caused might provefatal. Again, in case of fire on only one side of a party or division wall, the shutter on that side might drop and be partially destroyed by lire before the opposite shutter or door came down, in which event the doubleprotection provided for would not be effective. These disadvantages, as well as many others not referred to resulting from the independent operation of the double shutters, aresuch as to practically offset the advantages of the extra fireprotection afforded by the same' It has therefore been the object of my present in vention to nfovide an improved construction ofdouble shutter in which the disadvantages incident to the use of two independently installed and operated shutters will be avoided. This I accomplish by operatively connecting two rolling shutters, preferably through gearing, whereby they will be caused to raise and lower in unison, andassociating an operating mechanism with only one of the shut ters; this operatingmechanism, by. reason of the connection between'the shutters,. being effective to simultaneously operate and con-. trol both shutters.

By thus operating both shutters as a single unit through the finstrumentality of one operating means, the objections heretofore noted inconnection with the use of two independently operated shutters are avoided;

1925. Serial No. 3 1,283.

also, a substantial saving in expense is obtained. by eliminating one of the operating means, and a substantial saving in time in the operation of the shutters obtained by reason of the operation of one effecting the opera tion of both.

liefcrring now to the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wall having a door or window opening to which my improved shutter has been applied, the shutter supporting and operating mechanism being partly broken away and in section.

1 2 is an enlarged section on the line 22 ofFig. l. c i

Fig. 3 is a section taken vertically through the upper end of a door or window opening, in which is installed a shutter constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figs. {1, 5 and 6 are similar views showing variations in the positions and connections of the parts for adapting them to openings of different wall thicknesses.

As one of thejshutters or. doors of the present invention, with its supporting and operating mechanism, may be of any usual or suitable type, I'have here shown one corresponding with that of the aforesaid Patent No, 1,530,652. According to this, the shutter or door 10 is adapted to close an opening 12 in awalll-S, the same being guided in its raisingand lowering movements by channel bars 14: positioned adjacent one side of the wall opening, that is, at one side" of the opening in the direction of the wall thickness, This shutter, when in raised position, isin the form of a roll wound uponabar rel 17,110 which it is connected, asshown in Fig. 1, by spacing collars 18 fixed to the barrel by screws 19, the shutter being attached. at one end to said collars by screws or rivets 18.. The barroll? is in turn mounted upon a shaft 20, which extends therethrough and is journaled adjacent its opposite ends in the usual end brackets 26 fastoned to thel'milding wall or other support. The connections between .said barrel and shaft comprise bushings 21and 22 surroundi ng the shaft and secured by fastening devices 17 to the interior of the barrel and to the shaft, respectively, and a helical spring 23 fixed atone end to the bushing 21 and at its other end to the bushing 22; ihe spring 23 maybe wound up or placed under tension by a turning of the shaft 20 so as to normally counterbalance any tendency of the raised shutter to descend, end its tension" is preserved by loelun g the shaft against rotzttiolf by means of an enton'iatic release mechanism;

Referring to Fig g there is shownone form of automatle release mechanism comis a detent 32 on a ivoted lever 33, said de- V ingcon'arsiis; his-shown in Figi 'l; h

' 7 CH efen'cehow'e'vei' innswh 'ene'ctstheo erfermeho paw of the swihgihg th 'ren 34 6 Min-36 into engagement with h o closing move- 1*; hem, watmh "e5:

dire'etily' chhrh hwhihugh the rhea-him 0f sphe- This invention itssho'wn in this Fig; 3', aseeond shutter 10 "is 'lo'ztte'd adj'aeenttha't side of the wall opening 12 opposite the shutter 10 'fo't'slidinginovement in vertically arhanged Channel guides 14" end is attached" at its of" the un j upper end to zvb'arrel' 17 n-lonnted on the 1 shaft 20 which latter i'sfljonrintled at its opposite ends in the braeketsQG carrying the shatt -20'for the fi l st' shutter 10, For causing the shutter 10 to be raised and loweredi*in-unison with the first shutter 10,

its barrel 17 is operatively connected with able gearing, shown in Fig. 3, as comprising neotioit'betweeflthe two shn't'ters, it'will be 3 clean all ni otelnlents the first 01" power i shuttenlO, both i is thermally and otherwise contfol'led, will be ilnpalrted 'tojth'e second ating the twoshutti ies single unit, ts to lnattersof increased sat y, and greater Convenience in-operation 'greater 23 and of the into sawing ot time of less de'pth thm' ci'itted ptifi't sof one shuttet aliove those of Sheen with he 'op eriiftit eonneetioribetween I shutters comprising trim of I p 'shs sides- O the ngementeonffirising I hate shown the ohm-ownin one only of whichinc'lnc es' e 3 spring-- aetnated barrel tending to" unwind the shutter and the other mounted on a plain barrel, means connecting the barrels to effect simultaneous operations thereof in the same direction, and thermally controlled means to release the spring actuated barrel and permit the closing of both shutters, said thermally controlled means including heat responsive means located adjacent the respective sides of the opening.

2. In combination, a pair of spaced rolling fire shutters adapted to close both sides of an opening, one only of which includes a spring actuated barrel tending to unwind the shutter and the other mounted on a plain barrel, means connecting the barrels to effect simultaneous operations thereof in the same direction, a la tch controlling the spring actuated barrel to hold both shutters in open position, and thermally controlled means for releasing said latch to permit the closing of both shutters, said thermally controlled means including heat responsive means located adjacent the respective sides of the opening.

3. In combination, a pair of spaced rolling fire shutters adapted to close both sides of an opening, one only of which includes a spring actuated barrel tending to unwind the shutter and the other mounted on a plain barrel, means connecting the barrels to effect simultaneous operations thereof in the same direction, a latch controlling the spring actuated barrel to hold both shuttters in open position, a lever holding the latch in engagement with said barrel, and a chain extending through theopening having a pendent linl; engaging the lever, and fusible links adjacent the respective sides of the opening.

a. In combination, a rolling fire shutter, operating means therefor including a spring actuated barrel tending to unwind the shutter, a second rolling fire shutter mounted upon a plain barrel spaced from said firstmentioned one, means operatively connecti g the two barrels for effecting their movements in unison to lower the shutters under the control of the said operating means for the first barrel, and thermally controlled means adjacent each shutter connecting with and effecting automatic operation of the first shutter operating means.

5. In combination with a wall having an opening therein, a rolling fire shutter at one side of said opening, operating means therefor including a spring actuated barrel tending to unwind the shutter, a second rolling fire shutter mounted on a plain barrel at the opposite side of said opening, means operatively connecting the two barrels for effecting their movements in unison to lower the shuttors under the control of the said operating means for the first barrel, and thermally controlled means at the opposite sides of said opening connecting with and effecting automatic operation of the first shutter operating means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN M. CORNELL. 

